The humble clothesline is making a comeback.
Using the original solar dryer is a political act in many urban communities, where the sight of laundry flapping in the breeze is forbidden.
Fortunately, country people can do as they please on wash day without offending the neighbours.
We all know it’s worthwhile buying energy efficient appliances. Newer front-loading washing machines help consumers save on energy costs, water and detergent – and they work well with cold water.
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But once the overalls, undies and towels are washed, the job is only half done. How you choose to dry your laundry can have a big impact on energy costs and your carbon footprint.
Automatic dryers use at least 5.8 percent of domestic energy, and possibly much more, according to Marti Jernberg, an Illinois writer who maintains Project Laundry List at laundrylist.org. The website says air drying clothes has numerous advantages:
* Save on electricity bills.
* Conserve energy and reduce carbon dioxide output.
* Line-dried fabric smells wonderful.
* Fibres last longer when not tumbled in a dryer.
* Hanging the wash is good exercise.
* Sunlight bleaches and disinfects: it combats mould spores, bacteria and dust mites.
* Drying on lines or racks indoors improves the humidity in dry winter weather.
* Line drying reduces clothes dryer blazes, which are a leading cause of deaths, injuries and structural damage each year. Dryer lint is highly flammable.
As well, clothesline enthusiasts say air drying reduces wrinkles and static cling.
Line drying does take more time. Kathleen A. Hughes wrote about reacquainting herself with a clothesline for an article in the New York Times. She said she found it took her about seven minutes to hang each load, as compared to 30 seconds to stuff a load in the dryer.
Another drawback is that cottons and linens will stiffen when not tumbled dry. You may choose to finish towels, for instance, with a brief toss in the automatic dryer.
Green tips: Ways to conserve energy in home water heating
Homeowners have options when conserving energy in home water heating.
* Replace an aging water heater, even before it fails, with a new, more efficient model.
* Convert an electric water heater to natural gas.
* Consider solar technology. The initial investment is higher than other water heating strategies, but it can be more economical in the long run. A solar system can provide about two-thirds of your hot water needs. You will need a backup system to provide the remainder.
* Use cold water whenever possible. Washing and rinsing clothes in cold water can save on total energy costs for laundry.
* Use the energy saving setting on your hot water tank and adjust for the season and for times when you’re away. A setting midway between “low” and “medium” will yield water that is 50 C. Each 10 degree reduction in water temperature will save three to five percent in water heating costs.
* Insulate hot water pipes and the hot water tank to reduce heat loss. Insulating blankets for the tank are inexpensive and widely available. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation. Don’t cover thermostats, chimney vents or air intakes.
* If you are buying a new clothes washer, choose a water- and energy-saving front-loading model.
* Install low-flow showerheads and faucets. An eight-minute shower with a reduced-flow showerhead saves more than 6.5 litres of hot water, for annual savings of 14 percent on water heating.
* Repair or replace leaky taps. A hot water faucet leaking one drip per second wastes 9,000 litres per year. That would handle 160 full cycles of an automatic dishwasher.
Sources: Canadian Association for Renewable Energies, Government of Saskatchewan, United States Department of Energy.
